Impact of the “Imported Fire Ant” in the USA

Over time there have been several invasions of “Fire Ants” into North America that involve several species over the years.  While all of these ants sting most have not been as serious of a problem in comparison to S. invicta. One reason is the effect of the sting of S. invicta, as well as the density that these ants can obtain in an area.  Another factor is the tendency of S. invicta to invade less traditional ant habitats, as well as, the numbers of ants that are involved in these invasions.  Further, the impact of S. invicta can be positive or negative depending on the situation. These issues will be briefly discussed and some concerns noted concerning IFA management decisions.